When a company issues a release at 4:55 p.m. on Good Friday, it’s not good news.

That’s the timing Chesapeake Energy chose to tell investors it hasn’t found the chief executive for which it’s been searching since January.

The board, concerned about ongoing financial controversies at the Oklahoma City-based company, forced co-founder Aubrey McClendon to give up his chairmanship last year. Three months ago, it pushed him out completely. His last day was Monday.

Chesapeake’s board faces the daunting task of filling the CEO job as many other energy companies are also in the hunt for top talent. Meanwhile, the real winner may be McClendon, who’s likely to have his choice of options for a second act.